Robert Pierce was born around 26 October
1824 in South Lopham, Norfolk,England, son of James
Pierce and Elizabeth Wade (see Pierce
in England page to examine latest findings). He was baptised there on 19 June 1825,
along with his brother Henry Pierce. The family spelled their name Pearce in
England, changing it to Pierce in the United States. Robert sailed with his family to New
York in 1829. They settled in Jefferson County, New York. While his parents and brothers
moved on to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin in 1848. Robert remained behind.

Robert married Julia A Sprague around
1850. Census records record that Julia was born in 1828 in New York. Her gravestone lists
1823 as her birthdate.

In 1860 the Pierce family was living in
Alexandria, Jefferson County, New York. Four daughters had been born in New York: Sarah
DeEtte, Bertha, Florence, and Frances A. Residing with the family
were three members of Julia's family. Their relationship to Julia is not clear. 78
year-old Sally Sprague, born in Massachusetts or Connecticut, may have been either
her mother or grandmother. Twenty-three year old Marcellus Sprague and twenty-two
year old Mary Sprague were probably Julia's brother or nephew and his wife. In the
1850 census Marcellus was listed as the son of Charles and Marguerite Sprague.
Charles was thirty-six and had been born in Massachusetts. Marguerite was thirty-four and
had been born in New York. In 1850 Julia would have been twenty-two (or twenty-seven), so
it is unlikely that Charles was her father, more likely he was her uncle.

The Pierces left New York sometime between 1860
and 1864. In October 1864 Robert joined the B Company of the 27th Wisconsin Infantry. He
served until 29 August 1865, apparently escaping injury or disease during the time he was
enlisted.

The Pierces lived near the town of Lima in
Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. A number of Pierce families lived there, including two of
Robert's brothers. Several of Robert's nephews eventually moved to Michigan.

Between November 1866 and the summer of 1870 the
Robert Pierce family moved to Paradise township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. By 1870
three additional children had been born: Charles, Mary, and Fannie.
Fannie Pierce died at age three in Mayfield township. The family later moved to Fife Lake
township around 1875. All records indicate that Robert worked as a farmer throughout his
life. Julia Sprague Pierce died 2 July 1878 in Michigan. Her death record has not been
located. She was buried in 1880 in the Fife Lake cemetery.

In his later years Robert suffered from poor
health exacerbated by a logging accident in the late 1880s when a log rolled over him,
breaking several ribs. In 1890 he applied for a Civil war pension which was subsequently
approved. In 1900 he was living with his son Charles. Robert died 3 February 1904 at Fife
Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. He is buried in the Fife Lake cemetery. A death
notice appeared in a Traverse City newspaper:

"Robert Pierce

Sheriff Chandler received a message this morning
stating that his father-in-law Robert Pierce had died at his home in Hodge. He was one of
the first settlers of Grand Traverse county. The (?) will be held tomorrow at 1 o'clock at
Fife Lake."